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Comment by Minuteman on November 2, 2009 at 9:09am

to all those seeking entry into the art of amateuer radio there is a fast track as evidenced by my quick (only 3 week) entry into it. For now it is there tomorrow it may not be.

There is a finite question pool of which all FCC exams are written. To know the answers to these questions is to study for a couple of days at some websites and take practice tests. The study portion is flash card and multiple choice based. Your memory is all that is needed. Get them while you can and get on the air now.... FCC regs are subject to change annually and so are the testing methods.... Look here for a great study solution... www.hamtestonline.com In 3 weeks you can be a ham too.

No need to get spendy for the gear..... string a wire up for an antenna..... be prepared for the future......

Comment by Minuteman on November 1, 2009 at 9:40pm

Thanks guys for the fractal links and the solar setup info. I'll soon be getting both an HT and a solar setup to drive the radios. I need to heal the accounts a bit first as this hobby has been too expensive all at once. I need to practice some self control.......

I've been on daily and nightly. Contacted 14 countries and a dozen or so states on 20 and 40m. These things rock....

Today we headed out on a 2 hour drive to a 3500 ft mountain. Drove on up it and talked to the world with the IC-7000 and a hamstick... Czech Republic, Italy, Alabama, Florida and a four way conversation net style between Texas, Nevada, Nevada and Massachusetts. Kept hering....mobile? heh...I cheated a bit here... So far so good. Now to finish building the SHTF antenna (a scratch built packable yagi on 20m) and hike up a more local hill with the power pack to prove it. SHTF is why I got these things after all.....

Till next we speak, hopefully on the air, MM....

Comment by JED on October 29, 2009 at 12:35pm

Jonesey, nice thing about these fractal ground planes is they're very flexible. If you're not likely to snap off your rubber duck, I don't see how adding a fractal ground plane would make it any more likely.

I just got a catalog from Ham Radio Outlet, and they have solar kits with charge controllers and deep cycle batteries listed. I'll probably make that investment, as in a SHTF situation, I can only charge my power pack from my truck for as long as the gasoline holds out. Solar is a better solution.

Comment by David A Jones on October 28, 2009 at 9:39pm

JED,
Those look pretty slick. Probably have to have a lot of extra care not to snap off the SMA connector on my T90A. I've heard of nightmares where guys snapped their's off handling the radio by the antenna. D&L is only a couple miles north of Associated Radio, where I bought my HT.

MM, here are links to the charge controller and solar kit I got this summer. My 70 watt panel, I got quite a while back. It was spendy, but I got 12 month no interest on it. It was $800 from Radio Shack. They no longer carry them.

http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-60032-Digital-Charge-Controller/dp/B...

http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-50044-60-Watt-Solar-Charging/dp/B000...

jonesey65244

Comment by JED on October 28, 2009 at 5:44pm

Jonesey & MM, the fractal ground plane for the HTs are made by Les Sullins WB0KFK. My wife's looks kind of like a squared 4 leaf clover, mine is similar. If you want to get an idea of what they look like, a similar design is on www.dandlantenna.com where they show ground plane loops for HTs. The one for my wife's cost $20 at a hamfest, mine was $20 plus $3 for shipping. Nice little designs. If you decide to write to Les his email is sales@dandlantenna.com and let him know I told you about his fractal ground plane. All things considered I don't consider them pricey at all.

My 2 meter base antenna should be going up next weekend. I'm no good on a roof either, having had a minor stroke almost 6 yrs ago, and a major heart attack (my third) and a triple bypass 3 yrs ago, but a much younger friend will be doing much of the grunt work.

73
KE5ZTA

Comment by Minuteman on October 28, 2009 at 1:14am

Thanks Jonesey.

Good to hear you in here. You still may have some yime this year to get that beam going! Stick it on a pipe and hoist her up, we'll be waiting... Take care of that heart. The DX can wait....

Your deep cycle battery is actually the best solution of all as far as I'm concerned.. Not tied to the mains there is far less problems to deal with. Sound like a nice solar setup you got there too. Where did you get it? Was it pricey?

Fractal, from what I know of it, is a method of computational modeling. Intended to compute and model smaller, more efficient and higher bandwidth antennas. Sprint PCS phones use fractals. A log periodic can only be modeled with fractals. Before fractals no one knew why Log-P's worked as well as they did. Go figure...... I'll have to leave the rest of this to Jed who has actual hands-on with the fractal ground plane addition to a vertical antenna. I''m thinking it might be shaped like a checkerboard gone wild Jed?

First QSO today was Alabama/Florida line on 20 meters with less than ideal conditions for it. Can't stop yappin' now. We should have no trouble connecting when the props are in. 10 meters has been sporadic lately. Increasing sunspot activity in the forcast for next year....

They finally figured out why sunspots come and go like they do. It has to do with a sub-surface jetstream and when it rises to the 20th latitude. We are just there now. Who cares.....let's shoot some skip and be ready for the info blackout this next decade may bring....

Later!

Comment by David A Jones on October 27, 2009 at 6:25pm

MM,

Good deal on getting your call sign.

I've been here. Reading everything, but just not having anything to say.

I have to let my ignorance hang out here; I have no idea what a fractal plane antenna is. I have an Icom T90-A HT. Is there a web site I can go to to see one of these buggers. I did a google but did not real get anything.

Power was out here the other day for about an hour. Glad that I have the emergency backup that I do have. My 706MKIIG is deep cycle battery only. I have an Astron power supply, but don't use it. Recharge my deep cyc's about once a month. Just wish I could have gotten my solar panels system up and running this summer. I've got about 120 watts in panels and a 30 amp charge controller waiting to go up. I had some crazy thing wrong with my right upper arm and could literally not move it an inch without screaming pain. Took me out for over 10 weeks. Pretty much lost the summer.

Oh well. I have a friend who might still be able to help this year. Roof work by myself is probably a no-no since the stroke in 2001. Moved here in '93 and built my little 10 acre "empire" with just the help of my young son. Now, I can hardly maintain it. But it is still a good place to be when Obama gets his way and gets a class/race-war going. My little "empire" will always be here as a refuge for anyone able to get here when TSHTF

Most of my babble today is out of the scope of this forum, so will shut up. But I'm here. Read the site every day Looking forward to getting the beam up and trying some radio talk with you guys.

jonesey65244

Comment by Minuteman on October 27, 2009 at 2:50pm

Jed,

Where the heck is Jonesey?

The fractal is doing wonders on your wifes HT. Those HT's really benefit from the additional ground. It sounds like a good design. Is it pricey? Do you have pics? I want an HT eventually for QRP on the trail. There are some neat examples of packs and antennas on the web. Looks like a great addition to the normal woods walk.

The screwdrivers are a big compromise. Most just pump more power through them to compensate. I will limit my TX to 40 meters and below instead. These will do 6 meters as well so just 2 poles one for HT and one for 2m-70cm. An antenna farm has it's own set of problems as you know, especially mobile. I wouldn't approach my shack with a screwdriver personally. You are right...

I have no experience with the MFJ but 45A should hold within it all that you need. The price sounds good though. Is it huge?

Got my callsign today..... KB1TDQ..... That's Kilo Bravo One Tango Delta Quebec..... Damn I like it! ...woohoo!!!...heh...

Jonesey, 6/2/70cm ssb ready to go here. Let's pick some propagation and go for it when you get your beam up.

Jed get that supply up and running soon......

'till next time folks.....MM

Comment by JED on October 26, 2009 at 1:55pm

MM, a tuner is another of those items I don't have and will be likely to need eventually. The fractal ground plane was designed and built by Les Sullins WB0KFK. The one he built for my wife's Yaesu HT more than doubled her transmit and receive power so I'm looking forward to testing mine... as soon as my new battery and charger arrives. And I've been asked to beta test the new design for the 2 meter mobile antenna. If it's anything like the design for the HTs it should be very packable.

Your remarks about the screwdrivers are instructive. From what I understand any multiband antenna is a big compromise in performance. For a shack perhaps an antenna farm would be better, and I have seen trucks that look like antenna farms. Deciding which way to go for mobile is something I don't have to consider... yet.

On the power supply, I'm seriously considering an MFJ 45A unit. Power input is switchable to include any voltage found worldwide, with 45A max and 40A continuous. Looks like a good unit that would handle my equipment. $189 seems a good price. Any opinions on it?

Comment by Minuteman on October 26, 2009 at 6:45am

That fractal plane sounds like a fun project. I'll bet you do see some good improvement especially with the HT and portable. 2 meters is very forgiving on a mobile setup. I'd like to see your results. How large is it? Is it packable?

The PS never gets warm even. The fan never comes on which I like. It is small and efficient. You wouldn't be sorry with this one...

The screwdrivers are all negative gain. The higher you go in freq. the worse they are. A good one can give only 1.8% radiation efficiency at 80 meters, 77% radiation efficiency at 20 meters and almost unity gain at 10 meters. Most will do 6 meters with a shorter whip @~ 4ft. A Dipole configuration of these will increase these numbers by 2db relatively.

The screwdrivers are all about HF, convenience, tuning on the fly and compactness. For instance the 2x Alpine horizontal dipole erected will only be 27feet self supporting. Handy when your in a parking area with others' around. No need to tie off wires overhead. Small footprint. They are NOT as good as a simple resonant wire dipole but are handy for use when other ones are not feasible (like using only one for mobile). Just screw two pieces together (for the dipole), send it up on 20' of collapseable fiberglass mast, hook up the wires and your ready for Tx.....no counterpoise or ground radials required for fixed DX.

Just keep a full sized G5RV, Gell cells, solar charger and Ant/tuner handy for the SHTF survival pack in place of the Alpines is my plan...... It's hard to beat those wire dipoles with anything but a fixed beam.

Rock on Jed and Jonesey, we will converse soon....MM

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